world

26 dead in Somalia

Fresh fighting erupted between government forces and Islamist rebels in the Somali capital, leaving at least 26 people dead and dozens wounded Tuesday night, medical officials said.


About 60 more people were injured, medical officials said.

The casualties taken to local hospitals were civilians. It was unclear whether any militants or government forces were injured.

Fighters from Hezbul-Islam and Al-Shabaab attacked government bases in Hodan district, in south Mogadishu, according to medical sources.

Al-Shabaab is waging a war against Somalia's government in an effort to implement a stricter form of Islamic law, or sharia.

Somalia has not had a stable government since 1991, and fighting between the rebels and government troops has escalated the humanitarian crisis in the famine-ravaged country







15 people were killed in coal mine in northern China

At least 15 people were killed in an explosion at a coal mine in northern China early Saturday, state media reported.


About 20 more were injured, but mine officials said the number is expected to go up, according to the Xinhua news agency.

The blast at Liugou coal mine in Shanxi province occurred at 3:40 a.m.

Rescue crews were scouring the area for survivors. An investigation is underway.

Mine accidents are common in China. In 2009, 2,631 people were killed in such accidents. The figure, while high, is down from 2002, when 6,995 people died.

In April the country launched a campaign to inspect safety regulations in mines and other industries that have had serious accidents.